GB1002092A - Bowling pin setting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,002,092. Bowling alleys. BOWL-MOR CO. Inc. June 19, 1963 [June 20, 1962], No. 24411/63. Heading A6D. An arrangement for setting bowling pins on the deck of a bowling alley comprises a pinsetter mechanism having two vertically spaced, parallel platforms which are vertically reciprocable in unison and each have ports in register with the pin spots on the alley, means for feeding pins to the ports in the upper platform, means for optionally closing said ports, and furthermeans for arresting the passage of the pins through the ports when the latter are closed, the lower platform having associated therewith means for successively retrieving, retaining and releasing pins for re-spotting purposes between the first and second balls of a frame. Pin collector. A conveyer 1 (Fig. 1) transfers fallen pins from the pit to a pin collector 3 which comprises three parallel apertured plates, the outer ones having their apertures in register and the centre one being spring-urged so that its apertures are slightly out of register with those of the other two plates. The collector rotates to receive pins from the conveyer 1, and when full, the centre plate springs into registration with the other two to release the pins to a storage unit. Pin storage unit (Figs. 1 and 2). This comprises two parallel, vertically spaced, apertured plates, corresponding ports in the two plates being connected by plastics or fabric shoots 13, and those in the lower plate 11 being arranged in triangular array to conform with the final pattern of the pins when set on the alley deck. Stops 19 mounted below the lower plate 11 (Fig. 2) retain the pins in the storage unit, the stops being mounted on a common framework which is retractable to release the pins when necessary. Pinsetter. (Figs. 1 and 2) From the pin storage, pins are released to the pinsetter, comprising two triangular, apertured, parallel, vertically spaced plates 29 and 31, the apertures in the upper plate being circular, whilst those in the lower plate are rectangular. The upper plate 29 comprises guides 47 to receive pins from the storage unit. The guides being adjacent apertures in the plate which are normally closed by a spring- urged plate 55 slidably mounted beneath the platform 29. The upper plate also mounts pairs of yokes 70 (Fig. 11), one pair adjacent each aperture in the plate, the yokes being operated in unison to grip the pins as indicated in Fig. 11 when the plate 55 is retracted to release the pins from the upper plate 29, the object being to stabilize the pins and prevent their toppling as they are spotted on the playing deck. The pinsetter also serves to respot pins between the first and second balls of a frame, and to this end the apertures in the lower plate 31 of the pinsetter are rectangular to facilitate the respotting of pins which are slightly displaced from the relevant positions on the alley deck. As the pinsetter descends towards the deck after the first ball of a frame, the heads of standing pins are engaged by resilient pads 155 (Fig. 2) provided on the undersurface of plate 55, and the pins are gripped between pairs of sliding jaws 125 mounted one pair adjacent each aperture in the lower pinsetter plate 31. The jaws are operated in unison to grip or release the pins when appropriate. Sweep. The sweep 401 (Fig. 1) is mounted on resilient arms 403 fixed to a carriage 405 movable along a fixed frame of the alley and driven from an electric motor via endless chains 411. The sweep is automatically raised and lowered by means of pins projecting from the endless chains and engaging slots in links 417 pivoted to the sweep and to the carriage. The sweep cycle is initiated by a ball's hitting the bumper at the end of the alley, and is controlled thereafter by means of a series of switch engaging cams mounted on a shaft which is driven in synchronism with the chains. Operation of the machine. This is effected electrically, and the cycle of operations is normally fully automatic. The pinsetter is raised by a rack and pinion system powered by motor 195 (Fig. 1) and is lowered by gravity under the control of a spring counterpiece, means being provided whereby the circuit to the motor is broken in the event of the pinsetters' jamming in either its upward or downward movement. The motor 195 also drives a cam shaft (not shown) bearing four cams which co-operate with followers during various stages of the shafts' rotation to actuate the stops 19, the yokes 70, the slide 55 and the re-spotting clamps 125 at appropriate stages in the movement of the pinsetter. The machine also comprises a selector assembly (not shown) controlling, through a variety of cams, contacts and relays, the various functions of the machine in relation to the movements of the pinsetter. In particular, it includes means for stopping the motor 195 in the event of a standing pin being out of range of the re-spotting jaws 125 and for initiating a pin-setting operation in the event of the bowler's bowling a strike. Manually operable push buttons are provided for appropriately operating the machine to provide a new set of pins in the event of a foul being committed, or a tenth frame spare, being bowled. Electric control circuits are described.